Children's home run by Esland North Limited in Preston

Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 1 SC480161 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company to provide care for up to six boys. The statement of purpose states that care is provided for children with sexually harmful behaviours who require a medium- to long-term placement with therapeutic input to address those behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were five children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

A school, operated by the same provider, operates on the same site. The inspectors only inspected the social care provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/03/2023 Full Outstanding 14/12/2021 Full Outstanding 18/12/2019 Full Outstanding 15/01/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 3

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outstanding

Since the last inspection, one child has returned to live with their family, just before their 18th birthday. Staff supported the child to find a suitable college placement which enabled them to pursue training for their chosen career. This move was well planned and has been a positive experience for the child and their family. The manager understands the importance of making sure any new placement offered by the home is appropriate for the new child as well as the children currently living at the home, to minimise any impact on the stability and progress of all children.

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outstanding

Children are extremely positive about the care and support they receive. One child said, ‘It’s a nice place. The staff are nice and caring and I get help if I need it.’ Another child said, ‘Staff take a real interest in everything I do. They listen to me and give me help to manage my feelings, and I don’t feel judged by them.’ Professionals also speak positively about the relationships between the staff and children, and how settled the children are. This contributes to the excellent progress they are making. One social worker said, ‘I work with many children’s homes, and I can honestly say this is a superb home. Staff knowledge and skills are excellent. The care provided has enabled him to make exceptional progress and he tells me how happy and settled he is.’

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outstanding

All children attend education at the on-site school or college and are achieving consistently good educational outcomes. Some children previously had poor motivation and minimal aspirations. Through encouragement and support from all staff, this has significantly improved. Children now speak about what they need from their education to allow them to enter their potential chosen careers. Education staff work closely with care and therapy staff, which further promotes continuity of support.

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outstanding

Staff and children celebrate diversity and have an inclusive approach. Children are supported and encouraged sensitively with their identity and this approach contributes to them feeling valued.

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outstanding

Children are encouraged and supported to lead healthy lifestyles. They are all registered with community health professionals and are supported to attend routine healthcare appointments. The home is currently working with the local authority’s healthy eating and nutrition team, which comes to the home and helps children to understand the importance of good nutrition for their overall health. This is proving very popular with the children, who enjoy cooking and preparing meals alongside staff. This also supports children to prepare for independence when they move on from the home.

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outstanding

As well as attending physical health appointments, all children access the on-site therapy team on a planned weekly basis. This helps them to understand and Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 4 address their emotional health and well-being. When additional support is required, appropriate referrals are made and followed up with child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). Therapy staff attend weekly meetings with care and education staff and share strategies for each child, and their progress. This means that all staff are working together to provide children with consistent and carefully planned care.

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outstanding

Children’s views are central to the running of the home. They are consulted on all aspects of their care and support, and this enables them to understand their current and future plans. When there are restrictions on what children can do, these are explained to children, which helps them to understand the reasons why these are in place.

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outstanding

Children’s safety and well-being are priorities for staff, who fully understand their roles in relation to safeguarding. Regular training is held during staff meetings to underpin formal safeguarding training. This contributes to staff’s ongoing knowledge and understanding of current legislation and research in practice.

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outstanding

All children have robust risk management plans in place. These are kept under review and amended as required. Amendments are discussed with staff during daily handovers, which means all staff have detailed knowledge and understanding of children’s risks. Children are encouraged and supported to take age-appropriate risks, which helps them understand the importance of maintaining their own safety. One placing social worker said, ‘Although all risks cannot be eliminated, the skill and knowledge of staff and their understanding of each child contributes to the children’s safety and the safety of others.’

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outstanding

Children have a very clear understanding of the expectations of them regarding behaviours. Detailed behaviour management plans are in place which have been developed with input from the in-house clinical psychologists and education professionals. These are discussed with children during individual key-worker sessions, and this has helped children develop strategies to manage and reflect on their own behaviour. This approach further contributes to the children feeling settled, safe and secure.

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outstanding

Staff focus on the positive reinforcement of good behaviour and, as a result, negative consequences are rare. When consequences are used, these are fully discussed with the child, which helps them to understand the impact that their behaviour has on others as well as themselves. Effective management oversight ensures that consequences are not punitive and are proportionate.

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outstanding

The manager and staff have introduced a kindness and rewards system, which is valued by all children. This helps them to focus on positive rather than negative behaviours and encourages them to treat everyone with dignity and respect. Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A suitably qualified and experienced registered manager leads the staff team. She is supported by an experienced deputy manager. Together, they continue to attend training and conferences to further develop and underpin their knowledge and practice. They then share learning and research in practice with staff, making sure current practice is at the forefront of the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has high aspirations for all children. The staff also aspire for children to do well. They speak with immense pride and recognition of the progress children make and continue to reflect on their own practice to deliver a highly bespoke and consistent level of care and support. One parent said, ‘I cannot fault the staff and home at all. Since my child has lived there, the progress my child has made has been exceptional. The staff care about my child and support him so well. The difference in my child is so noticeable. They support me to have really positive time with my child. Their confidence has grown but most importantly, they feel safe, happy and settled. I could not ask for more.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are positive about the support and guidance they receive from the manager. They all have regular supervision which enables them to reflect on their practice, is suitably challenging and encouraging and is valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children benefit from a consistent staff team. The home does not use agency staff to cover annual leave or periods of sickness. They have their own bank staff who know the children and, importantly, the children know them well. This means they do not have constant changes of staff they do not know. Since the last inspection, one new member of staff has been appointed. Recruitment practices are in line with safer recruitment guidance. Comprehensive induction and supervision provide new staff with the skills and knowledge they require to fulfil their role and responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Most staff have completed the required level 3 diploma or equivalent qualification. Those who have not are working towards it and are on track to complete it in the agreed timescales. All staff have completed mandatory training as required. The manager has also introduced training and reflection on practice, including current research and development, in weekly staff meetings to further underpin staff knowledge and practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Management oversight and monitoring are comprehensive. This ensures that all documentation is current and reflects the needs of the children. It also enables the manager to have a good oversight of the home’s strengths and areas for ongoing development. When partner agencies have delayed providing relevant information, the manager has clear systems to escalate this with senior managers, enabling relevant documentation to be received as required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and deputy manager are frequently present in the home. They have an open-door policy so that children and staff are able to speak and engage with Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 6 them on an informal basis, which they do. Children said they feel able to discuss things with staff and managers whenever they wish. They said that they feel safe and happy at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has addressed the two recommendations made at the last inspection. The home’s Wi-Fi code is now kept secure and is not accessible to children, which contributes to keeping children safe. The other recommendation, in relation to an extractor fan in the shower room being replaced, has been actioned and the fan is working as required.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 1 Tustin Court, Riversway, Preston, Lancashire PR2 2YQ

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Inspector

Sarah Oldham, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 8 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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